M. Zhurinov and the Research Institute of Oil Refining and Petrochemistry
The LLP “Research Institute of Oil Refining and Petrochemistry” was established on January 29, 2026, with 100% participation of D.V. Sokolsky Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry. The Institute is being formed as an отраслевой scientific organization to support the modernization of Kazakhstan’s oil refining and petrochemical industries. Murat Zhurinovich Zhurinov was appointed as the first Head and General Director of the LLP.
Murat Zhurinovich Zhurinov is a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and a distinguished Kazakh scientist and organizer of science. He was born on December 7, 1941, in the city of Arys. He graduated from the Kazakh Chemical-Technological Institute and completed postgraduate studies at the D.I. Mendeleev Moscow Chemical-Technological Institute, specializing in electrochemistry. In 1970, he defended his Candidate of Sciences dissertation, and in 1981, his Doctoral dissertation. In 1994, he was elected Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan.
Over the years, he worked as a lecturer, professor, head of department, and dean at the Kazakh Chemical-Technological Institute; Vice-Rector of Karaganda State University named after E.A. Buketov; Director of the Institute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR; Rector of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University; Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; President of the International Kazakh-Turkish University; General Director of the D.V. Sokolsky Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry; and President of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. Since 2026, he has served as the General Director of the Research Institute of Oil Refining and Petrochemistry.
M. Zhurinov’s scientific contribution includes more than 845 scientific publications, 22 monographs, and 152 inventor’s certificates and patents. Under his supervision, around 52 Candidates of Sciences and PhD doctors, as well as 7 Doctors of Sciences, have been trained. He is a laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in science, technology, and education, a full holder of the Orders of “Barys” of the I, II, and III degrees, and has also been awarded the “Parasat” Order and several international scientific awards.
The main objectives of the Research Institute of Oil Refining and Petrochemistry include conducting R&D activities, developing catalysts and technologies for deep oil refining, advancing petrochemistry and gas chemistry, producing modern fuels such as K5, K6, Jet A-1, and Jet A-2, carrying out technical audits of enterprises, standardization, certification, engineering services, personnel training, and commercialization of scientific developments. The Institute is expected to become a scientific and expert pillar for implementing the Concept for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Oil Refining Industry for 2025–2040.